Lesson: Fort Wars

Lesson Topic: Fort Wars

Fort WarsWritten by Joy Kita

Illustrated by Roy Stiffey

Chapter One: 1948

I find myself looking back a lot more now. Death has a way of doing that. It forces us to really

examine what is important in our life and what things are small and insignificant. While standing next to

Tommy’s grave, images of that summer replay in my mind like an old movie reel. Even in the

effervescence of youth, it was such a painful time in both our lives. It was 1948. The world was

recovering from the war. Families were rebuilding, mending, and mourning, all giving way to the promise

of a better future.

In the summer of 1948, I was an awkward, eleven year old boy with pale skin marred by unsightly

chunks of freckles. My mother couldn’t afford to both feed and clothe us, so we alternated. Sometimes, I

went to bed hungry, and some months, my shoes were two sizes too small. I had very few friends. We

couldn’t even afford a dog to ease my loneliness. Most nights, I was home alone.

We were one of the many families whose lives had been devastated by the war. My father and uncle

both died only months before the war ended, shredding my mother’s heart and causing my granddad to

shrink away from life. He still talked and walked, but there was no life in his eyes, no joy in his face—

nothing to indicate that he was still alive. He was an empty shell, picked clean by the greedy hands of

war.

During the summer of ’48, a heat wave kept most adults indoors and the children in the local pool.

Being poor meant that I couldn’t use the pool, but that was more of a blessing than a punishment. The

last place I would ever go was someplace packed with kids who didn’t like me. Besides, I had better

things to do. Granddaddy lived in a ramshackle cottage so far down the tracks it was almost in the

country. There was a brush of trees big enough to be considered a forest and a pond clean enough to

swim in.

Chapter Two: The Rope Swing

Uncle Johnny had tied a rope far up the crooked oak tree years ago, but I’d never worked up the

courage to try it. That summer I was as determined to swing from that rope tree as my mother was to

stop me. As far as I was concerned, there were worse ways to die than jumping off the swing that my

uncle had built.

It was the day I trekked to Granddad’s house, shouting a brief greeting before heading to test my

courage at the lake, that I saw Tommy there for the first time. Tommy was a mean rich kid that had no

business being in the backwoods and looking up at my rope swing. If I only had the courage to tell him

to get lost, maybe the events of the summer wouldn’t have unfolded quite like they had, but I didn’t. I

watched him from a distance, hoping he would leave before he saw me.

Tommy enjoyed picking on me. Not a day went by during the school year that he didn’t punch me,

insult me, or steal my lunch. I never had any money, or he would’ve taken that, too. My lunch wasn’t too

appealing, so he usually ended up stepping on it, causing everyone to laugh and me to go hungrier than

normal. It was no wonder my ribs stuck out like a carcass on the side of the road. The summertime was

my escape from bullies like Tommy. If he told his friends about this place, I’d never have a moment of

peace.

I heard my uncle’s voice in my head, telling me to stand tall and fight for what was mine. My father’s

voice countered it with his staid advice to work things out and to be friends with everyone. When Tommy

started to climb the tree, I knew I had to do something.

“Hey, that’s my tree.” The words came in a rolling shout, but I could hear the underlying tremble. All I

could do was hope that Tommy didn’t notice the quiver in my voice. “Oh look boys, there’s Davy Wet

Pants!”

I scanned the trees in a panic. If Tommy’s friends were with him, I was a dead man.

Up in the tree, two more boys called me names and hollered mean things.

“He thinks this is his tree. Now what right does this four-eyed freak have claiming trees the good Lord

planted for himself?” Tommy smacked his fist into his open palm. The other boys hopped down from

their perch.

I ran as fast as I could, but I wasn't very coordinated back then. Tommy and his friends caught up

with me pretty quickly because I tripped and fell into a mud puddle.

“Well, first you wet your pants, and now you fall into a sewer.”

I mumbled something, but one of the goons had me by the back of the collar and shoved my face

into the puddle.

“What did you say?” Tommy asked.

“I said that I wet my pants in kindergarten.” I tried to yank away from my captors, but each had at

least twenty pounds on me.

“I’m not interested in your excuses!” Tommy yelled.

Even though each breath I took felt like a knife in my chest, I managed to get my sorry behind back

to Granddad’s house.

“What happened to you?” He was sitting in a rickety rocking chair with his white sleeveless top,

yellowed with wear, and blue overalls slipping off one shoulder.

“Some boys in the woods chased me and I fell in a puddle.” I stumbled toward his feet and collapsed.

A cloud of dirt billowed up around me.

“I bet they look worse than you, right?” There was a hopeful glint in his eyes, a sign of life I hadn’t

seen in years.

I was afraid to tell him the truth. I shrugged and asked if I could spend the night. When he smiled, I

wondered if maybe there was a man left in there after all.

Chapter Three: The Fort

Granddad and I spent the next day building a fort with scraps of wood and a pail of rusty nails. He

said I needed a project for the summer to take my mind off things. We chose the tree with the rope

swing. Granddad hadn’t been out in the forest in years, but when he saw the rope swing for the first

time, he didn’t do much at all except say what a clever boy his son was.

“Your uncle was always trying one dangerous thing after the next. Going to war was part of who he

was.”

I nodded, happy he was able to talk about my uncle again, but I was really hoping the conversation

would change soon.

Granddad must have read my mind. “What will you do when the boys come back?”

I had thought all night about my Tommy problem. If I had any hope of salvaging my summer, I would

have to fight him. Even if I lost the fight, I would be satisfied. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try. I was

so tired of being weak and afraid. “I’ll deal with it somehow.”

We worked for hours, hammering away until the tree house was complete. My granddad never

looked so alive. He acted like a young man, not tiring until late in the afternoon, when we stopped to eat

sandwiches.

“You know those boys have been watching us for over two hours,” Granddad said.

I already knew that, but I was hoping he hadn’t seen them. I wasn’t surprised they were back, but I

was surprised that they kept their distance and just watched us all morning.

“Your cousin Maria is coming to stay with me for a couple of weeks. I’ve already spoken to your

mother, and she’s agreed to let you stay. That is, of course, if you want to.”

I nodded, too surprised to say anything right away. Granddad had not taken an interest in me or

Maria since Uncle Johnny died.

“Her mama’s going to let her?” This surprised me. Maria used to live down the street from us, but

when her mom remarried she moved away. There has been tension between her and Granddad ever

since she moved on.

“I was a bit surprised myself. It turns out Maria misses both of us.”

The rest of the afternoon we worked with renewed energy, both us wanting to finish the fort by the

time Maria arrived.

Chapter Four: Rivals

The only thing that could disturb me was Tommy and his gang. They had begun to work on a fort

themselves about ten yards away from ours. Granddad shouted out a polite greeting, but they only

snickered and continued building.

Maria arrived three days later, and it was like she’d never left. Granddad even washed up and

splashed a little cologne on his face from an old dusty bottle. I didn’t have the heart to tell him he

smelled better before he put it on.

The next day at the fort, Tommy and the boys were nowhere to be found. I filled Maria in on all that

had gone on since she left. The walls of my new fort gave me the strength to talk about stuff I’d never

even said aloud before. Maria was a year older than me, but we’d always been the best of friends.

“Let those bullies come around here, and I’ll give them what they're asking for!” She tossed her fiery

red braid over one shoulder and wrinkled her nose like she was standing downwind from a water

treatment plant.

It was a week into her two-week visit that it happened. I thought Tommy had accepted the tentative

peace between us. Aside from a few cherry bombs tossed at the fort, they left us alone. That morning, I

sent Maria ahead of me. I wanted to surprise her with a camp out that Granddad had given us

permission for. I stayed back to pack our supplies while she went on to the fort. By the time I started out,

the smoke was already rising above the trees like a pillar in the sky. The smoke was such an ominous

sign of doom and danger that I almost froze. I dropped all my gear, screamed for Granddad, and ran.

The fort was in flames and Maria’s cries were weak from behind the wooden walls. She was trapped in a

prison of fire, and I had no way to get to her.

“What have you done, Tommy?” I yelled. He was hiding behind a tree not too far from me, tears

streaming down his face.

“We didn’t know she was in there, Davy, I swear we didn’t. The others ran off, but I couldn’t just leave

her.”

I tore off my shirt, refusing to believe it was over, and dunked it in the water. Tommy watched me, still

half hiding until he saw what I was doing. We bound our hands in our soaking shirts and stormed past

hissing flames, crashing through the door. Maria was huddled under the old blanket we used for picnics.

She wasn’t making any noise. It took both of us to drag her to safety.

Chapter Five: Remembering

When I think back to that summer full of so many painful memories, I get lost in ugly thoughts of what

might have been. What if I hadn’t seen the smoke? What if Maria had stayed back with me? What if

Tommy had left like the others? I try to only see the good. Maria lived. Tommy and I became friends.

Granddad mourned Uncle Johnny properly, and took on the arduous job of raising a teenager when

my mother fell ill.

Maria had slight lung damage and a few scars on her arms from the burns. After I socked Tommy in

the face, he wiped the blood from his nose and shook my hand. Turned out we had more in common

than we realized. Neither of our dads had made it back from the war.

Now, as Maria and I are standing at Tommy's graveside, I am overcome with grief. She grasps my

hand and together we say goodbye to our friend.

Question 1:

Why did Maria go to the fort before Davy the morning of the fire?

Davy wanted to surprise her with a camp out.

Davy never went to the fort in the morning.

Maria wanted to tidy up the fort before Granddad came to visit.

It was Maria's last day at Granddad's house and she wanted to be alone.

Question 2:

One theme in this story is

generosity

acceptance

courage

empathy

Question 3:

Through most of the story, Davy and Tommy seem very different. In what ways are the two boys

alike?

Check all that are true.

They both dislike public swimming pools.

They both lost their fathers during the war.

They both spent time with their granddads.

They both hated going to school.

They both built a fort by the lake.

Question 4:

What does the sentence below mean?

He was an empty shell, picked clean by the greedy hands of war.

He had stopped eating and lost so much weight that he looked like an emptyshell.

He had nothing left in the fields because the government took everything fromhim during the war.

He didn't have anything left to give or share with other people because peoplewere greedy during the war.

He felt empty inside because the war had taken away the things that matteredmost to him.

Question 5:

What was the main event in "Chapter Three: The Fort"?

Davy ran into Tommy and his friends at the fort.

Maria and Davy spent two weeks with Granddad at the fort.

Tommy and his friends watched Davy and Granddad build the fort.

Davy and Granddad built a fort down by the lake.

Question 6:

If the story had been told from the first-person point of view of Tommy, we would know

why Maria went to the fort by herself that morning

why Davy didn't like Tommy and his friends

why the boys started a fire at the fort

why granddad and Maria's mom didn't speak very often

Question 7:

How does this image contribute to this story?

It creates a suspenseful mood.

It creates a frightening mood.

It creates a joyful mood.

It creates a depressing mood.

Judging by the light red mark on theskin, we can see that this is a firstdegree burn.

Lesson Topic: Don't Get Burned

Don't Get BurnedWritten by Marilee Joy Mayfield

You're an emergency room doctor. A patient is screaming in pain as she's wheeled into the

examining room. She's a cook at a local restaurant, and she's been burned with hot oil from a restaurant

fryer. Her arms are red and swollen. Her face has been burned, too. You’ll need to act fast to help her.

To make sure you give her the right treatment, you'll need to know which type of burn she has.

There are three categories of burns: first degree, second degree, and third degree.

The degree of the burn depends on how deeply the skin is affected.

First degree burns are considered to be fairly mild

compared to other burns. The symptoms of first degree burns

are pain and reddening of the outer layer of the skin, called the

epidermis. A first degree burn can be treated with skin care

products, such as aloe vera cream or an antibiotic ointment.

You may need to give the patient pain medication to make him

or her more comfortable.

If a second degree burn isless than three inches indiameter, it can be treatedby cooling the burn andcovering it with gauze.

This third degree burn is eight daysold and was caused by a motorcyclemuffler.

A second degree burn affects the epidermis, but it also affects the

dermis which is a lower layer of skin. This degree of burn causes

redness, swelling, blistering, and intense pain. Second degree burns may

be treated with stronger antibiotic creams or ointments. This will help

keep the wound clean and free from bacteria or infection. The

medication you give to the patient will depend on how severe the second

degree burns are and how much of the body they cover.

Third degree burns go through the dermis. They can affect

fat, muscle, and even bone depending on the depth of the

burn. Symptoms of third degree burns are white, blackened, or

charred skin that may be numb. Some of the normal pain

sensors of the skin have been burned off. Still, this doesn't

mean that the patient is not in pain.

More than likely, if the patient has third degree burns, she has several different categories of burns.

A third degree burn may require skin grafting. If there are third degree burns covering large parts of her

body, more intense treatments, such as antibiotics through an IV, may be needed. An IV, intravenous

therapy, is given to patients who need to take medicine or fluids through a vein instead of orally. This

method allows medicine and fluids to get into the system more quickly. You will also need to administer

drugs for pain.

Your patient has second degree burns. It could have been worse. Along with the nurses, you make

sure the wound is cool, apply antibiotic ointment, and wrap the wound lightly with gauze. Finally, you

prescribe medication to relieve the patient of pain.

Question 1:

Symptoms of a second degree burn are

redness, swelling, blistering, and intense pain

several different categories of burns

white, blackened or charred skin that may be numb

pain and reddening of the outer layer of skin

Question 2:

What is the best summary for this article?

There are three degrees of burns and you would treat each of them differently.

If you are burned, you should go to the emergency room immediately.

As an emergency room doctor, you need to be prepared to deal with any typeof injury.

First degree burns are not as severe as third degree burns.

Question 3:

What is the relationship between third degree burns and all other burns?

A third degree burn is completely different than every other burn because it isso severe.

Usually when someone has third degree burns, they have several categoriesof burns.

A third degree burn is the least intense burn, usually only requiring aloe verato soothe the burn.

none of the above

Question 4:

Read the sentence below.

Second degree burns may be treated with stronger antibiotic creams or ointments. This will help

keep the wound clean and free from bacteria or infection.

Antibiotic probably means

a chemical substance used to keep bacteria from growing

soothing or numbing agent

a compound of elements that keep your burn from itching

any medicine that is taken orally

Question 5:

Read the passages below.

Passage 1:

Two patients come to urgent care with burns. One patient has a deep burn that is charred and numb to the touch. The

other patient has a light red mark on their arm and some pain, but it is not swelling or blistered. You treat the patient

with the deep burn first because they have a more severe burn.

Passage 2:

As a doctor, you often prescribe antibiotics to treat infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics work in one of two

ways. A bactericidal antibiotic kills the bacteria. A bacteriostatic stops the bacteria from multiplying.

How are these passages similar?

Both passages conclude about the best way to treat a patient.

Both passages explain how to treat a burn chronologically.

Both passages present problems and solutions.

Both passages contrast two similar things.

Question 6:

If this article were written by someone who has experienced a severe burn, which of the

following would he or she be most likely to emphasize in the new text?

The article would probably have specific information and pictures of theauthor's burn.

The article would probably give examples of how various patients are treated.

The article would probably include how the author's family reacted to the burn.

The article would probably only explain the type of burn the authorexperienced.

Question 7:

You are writing a research report on third degree burns. Which of the following sources might

you consult?

Check all that are true.

a fiction story about a boy who gets burned

a book, How to Become a Nurse

a medical website that specializes in burns

a physician who specializes in serious burns

a person who has experienced minor burns

Question 8:

What evidence could the author add to make the points stronger about how to treat the different

types of burns?

The author could explain what type of antibiotics to use on different burns.

The author could add details about how to do a skin graft.

The author could give information about typical infections associated withburns.

The author doesn't need to add anything about how to treat different types ofburns.

Question 9:

Read the passage below.

Symptoms of a first degree burn include redness on the outer layer of skin and pain. A second degree burn is likely

to have swelling, redness, blistering, and intense pain. Finally, a third degree burn may have white, black, or charred

skin and be numb. As a doctor, you treat the current wound, as well as make sure the area does not become infected

in the future. To ensure the area does not get infected, you often prescribe antibiotics to treat infections caused by

bacteria. Antibiotics work in one of two ways. A bactericidal antibiotic kills the bacteria. A bacteriostatic stops the

bacteria from multiplying.

What are the important details in this passage that were not included in the article?

Third degree burns may not seem as painful because they are often numb.

First degree burns only affect the outer layer of skin.

Second degree burns involve intense pain.

Antibiotics work in two ways to treat infections.

Lesson Topic: We're Having a Heat Wave

We're Having a Heat WaveWritten by Marilee Joy Mayfield

It’s really hot outside today. You’re used to hot weather, but today it’s so hot that your skin feels like

it’s being sunburned when you’re outdoors. The air isn’t moving. It’s been hot and humid for several

days in a row. The meteorologist has announced, “We’re having a heat wave.” How hot would it have to

be outdoors for there to be a heat wave? The answer to this question depends on the weather patterns

in your area.

This weather map shows the H,which means high pressure system,over the southwest U.S.

A heat wave happens when the high temperature is more than 9 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than

normal for five days in a row. So, if you live in Miami, Florida, and the average temperature in April is 85

degrees, it would have to be 94 degrees or warmer for five straight days. That’s hot!

In July of 2009, southwest Texas hadrecord breaking heat, but theaverage increase in temperature wasonly 4.1 degrees.

What are the conditions that cause a heat wave? First, a

system of high pressure moves into an area. Air from the

upper atmosphere is pulled toward the ground. Then, the air

becomes compressed and gets hotter. This high-pressure

system prevents winds and clouds from coming in to cool

things off. The longer the system stays in an area, the hotter it

gets.

Heat waves are very dangerous. Because there isn’t any wind to cool things down, the heat gets

trapped. As the temperature keeps rising, people, animals, and plants suffer from heat stress.

Prolonged exposure to the sun and heat can cause severe sunburn and heat cramps. As the

temperature climbs to record highs, some people will experience heat exhaustion. Mild shock, heavy

sweating, weakness, clammy skin, weak pulse, fainting, and vomiting are all signs of heat exhaustion. If

someone you know is exhibiting any of these signs, you should have them lie on the floor and apply a

cold compress, like a cold, damp towel, to their forehead. Also, elevate their feet, use a fan to lower the

temperature around them, and have them drink non caffeinated fluids to begin re-hydrating. If this does

not provide relief within 30 minutes, call a doctor.

You should drink atleast 64 ounces ofwater every day.During really warmweather, you will needa lot more.

Sometimes the heat is so crippling that people have heat strokes. A heat

stroke is a life-threatening condition. Your temperature rises to 105 degrees.

Your skin becomes hot and dry, and you have a rapid, irregular pulse. You

stop sweating, and then you lose consciousness. Young children and older

people are harmed from heat stroke more often than strong healthy adults.

There are ways to prevent heat strokes, and the most important is to stay

hydrated. Be sure to drink a lot of water and stay out of the sun if your town

is going through a heat wave!

Question 1:

Based on the text, what are some signs that you might be experiencing heat exhaustion?

Check all that are true.

fainting

vomiting

rapid, irregular pulse

hallucinations

body temperature of 105 degrees

Question 2:

What is the best summary of this article?

During a heat wave, people are very likely to experience heat exhaustion,which is a form of heat stress. If you have heat exhaustion, get helpimmediately.

A heat wave is when the temperature is at least nine degrees above averagefor five days straight. This makes many people tired and hot.

A heat wave involves sustained temperatures that are higher than normal.People are more susceptible to heat stress during this weather.

Heat stress is treatable and preventable. Therefore, you should be careful notto be outside for a long time when it is really hot.

Question 3:

What is the relationship between a high pressure system and a heat wave?

A high pressure system pulls more air towards the ground, compresses it tomake it warmer and is a major cause of heat waves.

A high pressure system moves the air rapidly and is often know to createtornadoes, which are related to heat waves.

A high pressure system pushes air away from the ground so that the air is thinand there is no breeze, causing a heat wave.

A high pressure system holds the air in place so that it gets really hot andcauses a heat wave.

Question 4:

Read the passage below.

Air from the upper atmosphere is pulled toward the ground. Then, the air becomes compressed

and gets hotter. This high-pressure system prevents winds and clouds from coming in to cool

things off.

What does compressed mean?

flattened or pressed together

thin and spread out

disorganized or haphazard

tight and swirling

Question 5:

How is this text similar to the article Don't Get Burned?

Both articles are written as first-person accounts.

Both articles compare different levels of a medical situation.

Both articles focus on problems with medical emergencies and give thesolutions.

Both articles explain step-by-step how to deal with medical emergencies.

Question 6:

With which statement would the author most likely agree?

To prevent heat stress, you should educate your family about how to treat heatexhaustion.

To prevent heat stress, you should move to a cooler climate.

To prevent heat stress, you should stay hydrated and out of the sun during themiddle of the day.

To prevent heat stress, you should never go outside during a heat wave.

Question 7:

How would you help someone who is experiencing heat exhaustion?

Check all that are true.

Apply a cold compress to the person's head.

Dump a bucket of ice cold water on the person.

Ask the person to lie down.

Help the person walk around the block.

Start an IV so that they get fluids immediately.

Question 8:

According to the article, the most important reason to stay hydrated is

so that you can help others experiencing heat stress

so that you are less likely to experience heat stress

so that you can stay refreshed

so that you are prepared for a heat wave

Question 9:

If you were writing a report on personal experiences with heat exhaustion, you would most likely

Check all that are true.

research the internet to find blogs or personal stories of heat exhaustion

choose a different topic for your research report

try to personally experience heat exhaustion

interview people who have experienced heat exhaustion